People buying alcohol at the Douglas Breeze In may soon need to shop elsewhere as an application to transfer its retail alcohol license to Foodland IGA — allowing for an expansion of the supermarket into the adjacent space now occupied by Kenny’s Liquor Market — has been filed by the company that owns the supermarket and recently purchased the Breeze In.
The license transfer would be the first major operational change since The Myers Group LLC, based in Washington state, purchased the three Breeze In convenience stores in Juneau this summer, although hours at the Douglas and Lemon Creek locations were reduced slightly at the end of October.
Management at the family-owned Kenny’s Liquor Market has said they are operating month-to-month as they await a long-expected eviction from the space in the Foodland shopping center building owned by The Myers Group.
Rick Wilson, general manager for Alaska operations for The Myers Group, stated in a text message Wednesday “there is nothing to report yet” about the transfer application, and how it will affect the future of the Douglas Island Breeze In and the space where Kenny’s Liquor Market is located. Tyler Myers, owner and CEO of The Myers Group, did not respond to messages Wednesday seeking comment.
Wilson, in an Aug. 15 interview, stated his company “wouldn’t go in and make any major changes” to the Breeze In’s current operations.
The Douglas Island Breeze In, located just past one end of the Douglas Bridge, is the smallest of the three outlets. The Mendenhall Valley location also has the distinction of being the only one open 24 hours a day, while the Lemon Creek location has the most extensive selection — particularly of deli and baked items — as well as a full-fledged catering and bakery operation on its second floor.
A public notice of the alcohol transfer license, stating the intent is to transfer it to Foodland IGA — first appeared in the Juneau Empire on Nov. 6. The state’s Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office states on its website its goal is to process applications within three months, but it is difficult to estimate times — and often the wait is longer — due to changes in state law that took effect this year involving permitting.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
